By Gloria Akudoro, Abuja
In ensuring that the federal civil servants conform to the FG COVID-19 vaccination mandate, the President Nigeria Labour Congress and International Trade Union Confederation, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has also called on the Federal Government to apply the tool of persuasion and conviction to get workers vaccinated rather than compulsion.
Comr. Wabba made this disclosure yesterday in Abuja while briefing on the need for workers to take COVID-19 vaccination and make workspace free and safe.
According to him, “We urge the FG and other employers of labour to use the tool of law of ‘Persuasion and Conviction’ rather than force to get workers and the general populace to take advantage of vaccine. To also make special arrangement for workers to access the vaccine at the workplace.”
Comr. Wabba seized this opportunity to instill confidence on Nigerians and workers on how necessary it is to get vaccinated and cautioned not to ignore scientific evidence and statistical records from public health experts.
“I understand some people prefer to view COVID-19 with caution. Yes, it’s important to proceed on issues of public health with great caution. Yet, it would be foolhardy to elevate caution above scientific evidence and facts from public health records,” he emphasized.
While highlighting the importance of being vaccinated, the NLC President mentioned that as at third week of October, 2021, World Health Organization (WHO) data shows that over one hundred and eighty thousand frontline health workers globally lost their lives to COVID-19.
He added that study conducted by United States Centre for Disease Control (USCDC) on May, 2021, also reveals that about 63 percent dropped in hospital visitation after been vaccinated, altomatically, 63 percent dropped in hospital admission post vaccination and 66 percent dropped in mortality for those between the age bracket of 18 to 49 after the vaccination.
Comr. Wabba while briefing the journalists on COVID-19 vaccination, praised all workers for the sacrifice they have made in combating and containing the deadly virus even though many have lost their jobs and source of livelihood to the dreaded pandemic.
He also lauded scientists for their efforts in breakingthrough with the discovery of vaccine for COVID-19 which has helped to mitigate death rate and hospital admissions.
The NLC President, therefore, called on workers all over the globe, Nigeria in particular to cease the advantage of the COVID-19 vaccine and keep themselves, families, colleagues and workplace safe, free from morbid threat of the coronavirus.